Werner Schröer

On 15 April 1941, the first elements of 1. and 2. Staffel began relocation to North Africa to Tripoli. From Tripoli, the Staffeln were ordered to Ayn al-Ġazāla airfield, west of Tobruk, where they arrived between 18 and 24 April 1941.[15] Schröer was credited with his first aerial victory on 19 April, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricane fighter of the No. 274 Squadron shot down near Tobruk.[16] That day, the Gruppe claimed its first four victories in Africa.[17] In this encounter, Schröer was shot down in his Bf 109 E-7 (Werknummer 3790—factory number), resulting in a forced landing at Ayn al-Ġazāla.[18] Schröer's victor was Pilot Officer Spence. Schröer was the first German Bf 109 pilot shot down in Africa.[19] For this, Schröer was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse).[20] Two days later, on 21 April, I. Gruppe engaged in combat with Hurricane fighters over Tobruk, claiming one victory by Oberfeldwebel Albert Espenlaub for the loss of Unteroffizier Hans Sippel who was killed in action.[21] Schröer's Bf 109 E-7 (Werknummer 4170—factory number) also sustained combat damage in this encounter. He managed to fly his aircraft back to Ayn al-Ġazāla, making another forced landing and slightly injuring himself.[22] It is possible that his victor was Pilot Officer Spence, making it the second time in 48 hours the RAF pilot shot him down.[19]

Bf 109 E-4/trop "black 8" of JG 27, Schröer flew this aircraft on account of pictures taken by the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.[23]

Schröer claimed his second aerial victory over two months later. On 25 June, he claimed a Hurricane shot down, presumably from 2 Squadron of the South African Air Force (SAAF).[20] On 8 July, Schröer claimed another Hurricane shot down in combat west of Bardia.[24] On 19 July 1941, a flight of three Schwärme, flights of four aircraft, from I. Gruppe encountered a mixed flight of Hurricanes and Curtiss P-40 "Tomahawk" fighters on a combat air patrol north of Sidi Barrani.[25] Twelve Hurricanes from No. 73 Squadron RAF, augmented by P-40s from 2 Squadron SAAF, provided fighter escort for Allied shipping destined for Tobruk. In this encounter, the Germans claimed three victories without sustaining any losses. Schröer was credited with his fourth victory that day, a P-40 claimed at 18:17 northeast Ras Asaz. On 21 August, Schröer claimed his fifth victory, a Hurricane from No. 229 Squadron on an escort mission for a flight of Martin Maryland bombers from 24 Squadron SAAF on a bombing mission to Menastir, near Bardia.[20]

On 29 August 1941, Schröer engaged in aerial combat with the top Australian ace Clive Caldwell of No. 250 Squadron RAF north-west of Sidi Barrani. In the course of the battle Schröer damaged Caldwell's P-40 "Tomahawk". Caldwell suffered bullet wounds to the back, left shoulder, and leg but was still able to shoot down Schröer's wingman and heavily damage Schröer's own aircraft and thus forced him to disengage. According to Prien, Rodeike and Stemmer, authors of Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei Stab und I./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1939 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the Headquarters Unit and I./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1939 – 1945], I. Gruppe did not record any loss or damaged aircraft in this encounter.[26] On 3 September, Schröer was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse).[12] In support of German ground forces on 14 September, Schröer claimed his seventh aerial victory when he shot down a Hurricane.[27] The next day, he received the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Silver (Frontflugspange in Silber).[28] In late October, I. Gruppe was reequipped with the Bf 109 F-4/trop. To retain operation status, 1. and 3. Staffel left North Africa on 22 October while 2. Staffel stayed. In Italy they handed over their Bf 109 E variants and continued the journey back home by train. The pilots were sent on a short home-leave before returning to Ayn al-Ġazāla on 10 November.[29]

On 21 January 1942, Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel launched his counter-offensive in the area of Ajdabiya. Within one week, German forces reached Msus and from here they advanced towards Benghazi on 27 January, reaching Timimi on 10 February. This offensive negated much of the territory lost during Operation Crusader fought from 18 November to 30 December 1941.[30] On 1 March, when Schröer became adjutant in I. Gruppe of JG 27 learning command under the experienced Eduard Neumann, they were back at Martuba, east of Derna.[12] Schröer claimed his first aerial victory while flying with the Gruppenstab (headquarters unit) on 30 May over a P-40 northeast of Bir Hacheim during the Battle of Gazala.[31][32] On 10 June, he claimed another P-40 near Bir Hacheim. On 15 June, I. Gruppe escorted Ju 87s to Acroma. On this mission, Schröer claimed two P-40s shot down near Al Adm.[33]

Schröer was transferred to 8. Staffel of JG 27, a squadron of III. Gruppe, in June 1942. Schröer, who was scheduled to take command of 8. Staffel, flew his first combat mission with this unit on 23 June. On this mission, he claimed his 12th aerial victory, a P-40 shot down south of Sidi Omar.[34] His most successful day to date was 26 June when Schröer claimed three aerial victories following the Axis capture of Tobruk.[35] That day, he shot down a Hurricane and two P-40s near Mersa Matruh.[36] On 1 July, Schröer was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 8. Staffel of JG 27, based further forward at Fuka, succeeding Oberleutnant Hans Lass.[37] That day, Axis (German and Italian) forces launched the First Battle of El Alamein.[38]

With Rommel charging 500 kilometers (310 miles) onto El Alamein, the Gruppe moved to Bi'r Mu'min Busak located approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) west of Sidi Abdel Rahman. On 2 July, five Bf 109s intercepted RAF bombers and their escort fighters. In the resulting encounter Schröer claimed two P-40s near El Alamein.[39] The following day, Schröer led a flight of four Bf 109s to El Alamein. The flight encountered 8 to 10 Hurricanes and P-40s. In this engagement, Schröer claimed two Hurricanes and a P-40 shot down, taking his total to 20 aerial victories.[40] On 4 July, the airfield at Mu'min Busak came under attack. Engaging the attacking aircraft, Schröer claimed a P-40 destroyed.[41] Two days later, he claimed two further P-40s shot down. On 8 July, the Gruppe moved to a makeshift airfield named Quotaifiya, located approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Fuka. Schröer then claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter and a P-40 on 11 July, followed by three Hurricanes on 13 July.[42] The next day, Schröer shot down a P-40 southwest of El Alamein. He was credited with his 30th aerial victory on 16 July when he again claimed a P-40 southwest of El Alamein. The next day, he shot down another P-40 near El Alamein.[42]

On 22 July, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield named Haggag el Qasaba located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) southeast of Mersa Matruh. When on 26/27 July, the Battle of El Alamein ended with a stalemate, aerial combat for III. Gruppe lessoned. Aerial combat increased again on Rommel launched Unternehmen Brandung (Operation Surf) leading to the Battle of Alam el Halfa.[43] Following his 31st aerial victory, Schröer was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) in August 1942.[Note 4] On 3 September, the Gruppe was moved closer to El Alamein and moved to an airfield named Turbiya located approximately halfway between El Dabaa and El Alamein. Here on 8 September, Schröer claimed two Spitfires shot down, his 32nd and 33rd aerial victories.[47] The following day, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).[12]

On 15 September, Schröer claimed six aerial victories, five P-40s and a Spitfire, making him an "ace-in-a-day" and taking his total to 40 aerial victories.[47] According to Brown, these claims on 15 September are a matter of controversy. That day, JG 27 submitted claims for 26 aircraft shot down—including six by Schröer. In fact only five Allied aircraft were shot down in aerial combat that day.[48] That day, Schröer's Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was upgraded to Gold (Frontflugspange in Gold).[49] On 30 September, Schröer was leading 8. Staffel on a Ju 87 escort mission covering the withdrawal of the group and relieving the outward escort, III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing), which had been deployed to support JG 27 in Africa. Hans-Joachim Marseille's 3. Staffel visually sighted the RAF fighters but were unable to make contact. Marseille vectored Schröer onto the enemy aircraft. Marseille heard Schröer claim a Spitfire over the radio at 10:30. Both flights remained airborne over the next hour on patrol. At 11:30 Marseille radioed his engine was smoking and his flight escorted him to German lines. Marseille bailed out but struck the vertical stabilizer and fell to earth without his parachute deploying. Schröer arrived near 3. Staffel in time to see Marseille's Bf 109 hit the ground but saw no parachute. He later learned of Marseille's death.[50]

He continued claiming regularly in October, downing further fifteen aircraft.[51] Schröer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 21 October for 49 victories.[52] Two days later, Montgomery launched his victorious Second Battle of El Alamein. In the frantic air battles overhead, Schröer shot down 10 aircraft in a week. On 1 November, he was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).[12] Three days later, III. Gruppe relocated to Benghazi. That day, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) attacked the harbor at Benghazi. Defending against this attack, Schröer claimed his 60th aerial victory when he shot down a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber between Sollum and Benghazi.[53]

On 12 November, the air elements of III. Gruppe were withdrawn from North Africa and was ordered to regroup on Crete while the ground personnel were reassigned to Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing).[54] While based at Kasteli Airfield, the Gruppe was replenished with new pilots and a few Bf 109 G-2 trop aircraft. The time was spent with training flights. On 18 January 1943, Schröer was ordered to relocate his 8. Staffel to Rhodes Airfield. Here, the Staffel was tasked with protecting German and Italian shipping from attacks by RAF bombers and torpedo bombers in the Aegean Sea.[55] Here, Schröer was promoted to Hauptmann on 1 February.[56] On 11 February, on a shuttle flight from Rhodes to Crete, Schröer intercepted and claimed two light bombers which he identified as Bristol Beaufort bombers north-northeast Karpathos. RAF records show that two Martin B-26 Marauder bombers were lost on 15 February and the time of the claims filed by Schröer. Authors Prien, Rodeike and Stemmer argue that at the time the B-26 was a new and unknown aircraft type to Schröer while the date discrepancy cannot be explained.[57] After that he had extended leave at home for his wedding.[58]

II./JG 27 emblem

On 22 April 1943, a number of command position were changed, impacting Schröer. The Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander), Eduard Neumann was ordered to the staff of the General der Jagdflieger (General of Fighters) Adolf Galland. The vacancy in the Geschwaderkommodore position was back-filled by the Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of JG 27 based at Trapani in Sicily, Gustav Rödel who surrendered his command to Schröer.[59] In consequence, command of 8. Staffel was passed to Oberleutnant Dietrich Boesler.[60] The Gruppe was up against complete Allied air superiority and had the hopeless task of trying to protect transport aircraft making desperate evacuation flights of remaining wounded and specialists out of the beleaguered Afrika Korps, now bottled up in Tunis. Just before Schröer took over command, on the evening of 18 April, only 6 transports had made it to Sicily out of 65 leaving Tunis. Flying at sea level, half had been shot down and the remainder turned back damaged.[61] On 29 April, Schröer claimed two Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters shot down, his 64th and 65th aerial victories. II. Gruppe had intercepted P-38s from the USAAF 95th Fighter Squadron heading for Cape Bon. In the resulting head-on encounter, II. Gruppe pilots claimed three P-38s shot down, including two by Schröer, for no loss of their own.[62] While 95th Fighter Squadron pilots claimed six aerial victories and three further probable for the loss of two of their own.[63]

On 5 May, II. Gruppe flew fighter protection for the cargo ship SS San Antonio (6,013 GRT), escorted by an torpedo boat, heading for Bizerte. The ship came under attack by 26 B-24s which sank the San Antonio. In an attempt to protect the ship, Schröer was credited with the destruction of one B-24 bomber northwest Marettimo.[64] On 9 May, Sicily came under heavy aerial attacks. That day, Schröer claimed a B-24 and a P-38 shot down over sea.[65] In support of the German retreat from North Africa on 11 May, Schröer claimed a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber near Cape Bon and an escorting P-38 shot near Marsala.[66] On 19 June, II. Gruppe of JG 27 was ordered to relocate to Lecce, located at the heel of the Italian Peninsula where they arrived on 20 June.[67] Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, started on 10 July.[68]

On 28 July, the unit was ordered to hand its aircraft over to other units and the pilots and crews returned to Germany for much-needed rest and re-equipment. At Foggia, the remaining aircraft were handed over to Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing), JG 53 and JG 77. The pilots took a train to Vienna-Aspern. On 2 August, Schröer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), his tally at the time was 85 victories.[56] The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters in Rastenburg, present-day Kętrzyn in Poland. Five other Luftwaffe officers were presented with awards that day by Hitler, Hauptmann Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld, Hauptmann Manfred Meurer, Hauptmann Heinrich Ehrler, Oberleutnant Joachim Kirschner, Oberleutnant Theodor Weissenberger were also awarded the Oak Leaves, and Major Helmut Lent received the Swords to his Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.[69]

In late July 1943, II. Gruppe of JG 27 was ordered back to Germany. At first ordered to Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Airfield, where they arrived on 9 August, the unit then moved to Eschborn Airfield on 20 August. There, the Gruppe received new Bf 109 G-6 aircraft and replacement pilots and trained for defense of the Reich missions.[70][71] On 6 September, II. Gruppe flew its first operational combat mission when the USAAF VIII Bomber Command targeted Stuttgart. At 10:45, the Gruppe intercepted a B-17 formation near Stuttgart. In this encounter, pilots of II. Gruppe claimed nine aerial victories, six were later confirmed including three by Schröer.[72] II. Gruppe was ordered to Saint-Dizier Airfield in France on 12 September.[73] On 14 October during the second Schweinfurt raid at 13:28, II. Gruppe was scrambled at Saint-Dizier and intercepted approximately 150 bombers without escorting fighter protection shortly after 14:00 over the Palatinate. During this aerial battle, Luftwaffe pilots of II. Gruppe claimed nine bombers shot down, including a B-17 near Alzey by Schröer for his 89th aerial victory.[74] On 1 November 1943, Schröer was promoted to Major (major).[56] The Gruppe returned to Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Airfield on 18 November.[75] The USAAF attacked Bremen on 29 November. Defending against this attack, Schröer claimed his 90th aerial victory when he shot down a B-17 south-southwest of Bremen.[76]

On 7 January 1944, Schröer was credited with the destruction of a P-38 piloted by Joseph P. Marsiglia of the 55th Fighter Group, 338th Fighter Squadron. Marsiglia had to bail out and was apprehended near Holz in the district of Saarbrücken. This was Schröer's 92nd aerial victory.[77] On 14 March 1944, Schröer was appointed Gruppenkommandeur, III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing).[78] At the time, the Gruppe was based at Lüneburg Airfield and subordinated to 2. Jagd-Division (2nd Fighter Division).[79] On 20 April, III. Gruppe relocated to Landau an der Isar for conversion training to the Focke Wulf Fw 190. In consequence of this relocation, the Gruppe came under the control of 7. Jagd-Division (7th Fighter Division). Conversion training was relatively short and the Gruppe flew its first mission on the Fw 190 against attacking USAAF heavy bombers on 19 May.[80]

On 24 May, Schröer claimed a North American P-51 Mustang fighter and two B-17s, making him the 73rd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[81][82] When Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe on 6 June, III. Gruppe was immediately ordered to relocate to Villacoublay Airfield. That day, the Gruppe reached Nancy, arriving in Villacoublay the following day where it was subordinated to II. Fliegerkorps (2nd Air Corps). Its primary objective was to fly fighter-bomber missions in support of the German ground forces. The Gruppe flew its first missions on 7 June to the combat area east of Caen and the Orne estuary.[80] But the worsening situation and the intense pressure was taking its toll, and he was sent on a month's stress-leave in early June just as Allied attention turned to Normandy, possibly saving his life as the unit took very heavy losses in France.[83] On 6 June, he was temporarily replaced by Hauptmann Robert Weiß as commander of III. Gruppe and officially replaced by Weiß on 21 June.[78]

Returning to duty, from 5 November 1944 to 5 February 1945, Schröer was senior instructor at the Verbandsführerschule (Training School for Unit Leaders) of the General der Jagdflieger at Königsberg in der Neumark, present-day Chojna in western Poland.[84] In mid-February 1945, Schröer assumed command of JG 3 "Udet", named after Ernst Udet, from Oberstleutnant Heinrich Bär who had transferred to jet fighters.[85][86] On 14 February, Schröer was officially appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 3 "Udet".[87] The Geschwader was deployed in eastern Germany, initially subordinated to Luftflotte 6 and then under Luftwaffenkommando Nordost, where it fought over the lower Oder in the Battle of the Oder–Neisse.[85] There, he claimed 12 Soviet aircraft destroyed - his only victories not on the Western Front.[88] On 19 April 1945, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) following his 110th aerial victory. The bestowal of the Swords to his Knight's Cross cannot be verified via the records held in the German Federal Archives. Schröer presented evidence of the conferment which was confirmed by the Gemeinschaft der Jagdflieger (Association of German Armed Forces Airmen). The presentation date 19 April 1945 is an assumption of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).[89] The Geschwaderstab withdrew along the Baltic coast into Schleswig-Holstein. There, on 5 May 1945, Schröer surrendered to British forces and was taken prisoner of war.[85]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Schröer was credited with 114 aerial victories.[91] Spick and Obermaier also list Schröer with 114 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in 197 combat missions, the majority of which on the Western Front, including 61 in North Africa and 22 in Italy. This figure includes 26 four-engined bombers, four of which claimed as Herausschüsse (separation shots).[44][92] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 106 aerial victory claims, plus eight further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 12 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 94 over the Western Allies, including 23 four-engined heavy bombers.[93]

• Wound Badge in Black[94]
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold[94]
  • in Silver (15 September 1941)[95]
  • in Gold (15 September 1942)[95]
• Combined Pilots-Observation Badge[94]
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 10 August 1942 as Leutnant and pilot[46][Note 5]
• Italian Silver Medal of Military Valor[94]
• German Cross in Gold on 9 September 1942 as Leutnant in the III./Jagdgeschwader 27[96]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd class (19 April 1941)[97]
  • 1st class (9 September 1941)[97]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • Knight's Cross on 20 October 1942 as Leutnant (war officer) and Staffelführer of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 27[1][98]
  • 268th Oak Leaves on 2 August 1943 as Hauptmann (war officer) and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 27[1][99]
  • (144th) Swords on 19 April 1945 as Major (war officer) and Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[100][Note 6]